Use of fixed-dose combinations for cardiovascular indications from 2018 to 2023: a nationwide population-based study.

Aims: Clinical guidelines support the use of fixed-dose combinations (FDC) for prevention of cardiovascular disease. Implementation of FDC into clinical care remains challenging, and current population-based data are scarce.

Methods And Results: Claims data on dispensed drugs in an outpatient care setting of approximately 87% of the German population were analysed regarding the use of FDC according to time, age of the insured persons, and active ingredients.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on implementation of novel guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure in Germany: a nationwide retrospective analysis.

Background: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is the cornerstone in the treatment of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and novel substances such as sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated marked clinical benefits. We investigated their implementation into real-world HF care in Germany before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Methods: The IQVIA LRx data set is based on ∼80% of 73 million people covered by the German statutory health insurance.

Hidden sodium in effervescent-tablet dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Objective: Dietary sodium intake represents a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. The study sought to analyse the sodium content of effervescent dietary supplements and drugs in Germany and the USA.

Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Not obtaining a medication the first time it is prescribed: primary non-adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.

Primary medication non-adherence describes the situation when a first prescription for a new medication is never filled. Primary non-adherence is an important, yet understudied aspect of reduced effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. This review summarizes the frequency, impact, reasons, predictors, and interventions regarding primary non-adherence to cardiovascular/cardiometabolic drugs.

Increased Demand for Pharmaceutical Drugs Containing Potassium Iodide In Connection with the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine increased concerns in the German population of a release of radioactive substances, e.g.radioactive iodine.

Assessment of the Prescriptions of Systemic Antibiotics in Primary Dental Care in Germany from 2017 to 2021: A Longitudinal Drug Utilization Study.

(1) Background: Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, the frequency of antibiotic use should be questioned in dentistry and attention paid to the choice of the best suited substance according to guidelines. In Germany, overprescribing of clindamycin was noteworthy in the past. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the trend of antibiotic prescriptions in primary dental care.

Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure: efficacy and safety in and outside clinical trials.

Heart failure (HF) treatment has changed substantially over the last 30 years, leading to significant reductions in mortality and hospital admissions in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Currently, the optimization of guideline-directed chronic HF therapy remains the mainstay to further improve quality of life, mortality, and HF hospitalizations for patients with HFrEF. The angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) has an important role in the treatment of patients with HFrEF.

Quality Appraisal of Ambulatory Oral Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone Use in the 16 German Federal States from 2014-2019.

Background: Despite concerns about causing bacterial resistance and serious side effects, oral cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are still frequently prescribed in Germany. We aimed to test a method for the detection of regional quality differences in the use of oral cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones and to apply this to the German federal states.

Methods: Use of antibiotics from 2014-2019 was analyzed using dispensing data from community pharmacies claimed to the statutory health insurance (SHI) funds.

Utilization of drugs with reports on potential efficacy or harm on COVID-19 before, during, and after the first pandemic wave.

Purpose: Conflicting information on potential benefits of drugs as well as reports on hypothetical harm of commonly used drugs in COVID-19 treatment have challenged clinicians and healthcare systems. We analyzed the change in ambulatory drug utilization before, during, and after the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.

Methods: We explored dispensing data of nearly 19 000 pharmacies at the expense of the statutory health insurance funds covering 88% of Germany's population.

Post-mortem analysis of prescription opioids-A follow-up examination by LC-MS/MS with focus on fentanyl.

Our aim was to investigate the reason for relatively low detection rates for opioids and fentanyl in particular in post-mortem cases in the State of Hamburg. We re-analysed 822 blood samples from two different time periods, 2011/12 and 2016. These samples had been previously analysed in accordance with post-mortem routine by a case selected strategy.

The frequency of photosensitizing drug dispensings in Austria and Germany: a correlation with their photosensitizing potential based on published literature.

Background: Drug-induced photosensitivity refers to the development of cutaneous adverse events due to interaction between a pharmaceutical compound and sunlight. Although photosensitivity is a very commonly listed side-effect of systemic drugs, reliable data on its actual incidence are lacking so far.

Objectives: A possible approach to evaluate the real-life extent of drug-induced photosensitivity would be an analysis of the frequency of exposure to a given photosensitizing drug combined with an indicator of its photosensitizing potential.

Comparing outpatient oral antibiotic use in Germany and the Netherlands from 2012 to 2016.

Purpose: Overuse of antibiotics is of concern, but may differ between European countries. This study compares outpatient use of oral antibiotics between Germany (DE) and the Netherlands (NL).

Methods: For DE, we used the DAPI database with information on dispensings at the expense of the Statutory Health Insurance Funds from > 80% of community pharmacies.

Extemporaneous formulations in Germany - relevance for everyday clinical practice.

Background: Extemporaneous formulations broaden the spectrum of therapeutic options for topical treatment in particular and thus improve patient care. The latest amendment to the Regulation on the Operation of Pharmacies issued in 2012 brought about changes in prescribing and manufacturing practices. The aim of the present study was to assess the relevance of extemporaneous formulations in everyday clinical practice.

In search of a standard when analyzing medication adherence in patients with heart failure using claims data: a systematic review.

To determine and address medication non-adherence is important and may improve patient outcomes. Our aim was to perform a systematic review on the operationalization of adherence measures in patients with heart failure using claims data. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases.

Evaluation of pharmaceutical concerns in Germany: frequency and potential reasons.

Background: Generic substitution can have unintended consequences. In Germany, brand name to generic or generic to generic switching is mainly driven by rebate contracts. Frequent switching may raise concerns about bio- and therapeutic equivalence.

Dosage strength is associated with medication persistence with Ginkgo biloba drug products: a cohort study of ambulatory drug claims data in Germany.

Background: Ginkgo biloba drugs (Gb) are reimbursed within the German statutory health insurance (SHI) scheme for treatment of dementia. In 2008, a novel Gb product containing 240 mg Ginkgo extract EGb761® per tablet was introduced aiming to facilitate medication use by incorporating the recommended daily dose in one single tablet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dosage strength and persistence in a representative population of patients treated with Gb.